Boles Fire Cleanup: Weed,
California (2014)

After the 479-acre Boles Fire swept through the City of Weed
(Siskiyou County) on Sept. 15, damaging or destroying more than 150
homes, CalRecycle was asked by the Governor’s Office of Emergency
Services to provide recovery assistance by managing the cleanup.

The first phase of the cleanup project focused on ash and
debris removal to minimize impacts to the surrounding community,
and to prevent further migration of the materials as winter weather approached.

Following cleanup, crews worked to control future
erosion at the fire-stripped sites and removed trees that posed
a potential hazard due to the damage they suffered in the blaze.

Air monitoring and sampling within the project work areas
were
performed each day that debris was removed to verify control of
fugitive emissions generated by the project. Samples were
analyzed for metals and asbestos. CalRecycle also monitored
the air around the community, including Weed Elementary and High
Schools, to ensure that operational and engineering controls
were
controlling airborne hazards.

Milestone: Cleanup has been completed
on all 134 sites. Approximately 30,000 tons of material were
ultimately removed, including 21,000 tons of debris, ash and
soil; more than 8,000 tons of concrete; and 485 tons of
metal. The concrete and metal will be recycled.